The soap star believes that the story could motivate other women to have a smear test, particularly at a young age, similar to the impact of the 'Jade Goody effect' around her cervical cancer diagnosis 2008.

After rounds of chemotherapy and emergency surgeries, her illness was declared terminal and Jade passed away a year later, in 2009.

Following her diagnosis and intense medical treatment in the public eye, cervical cancer specialists reported a sharp rise in the number of women going for screenings, which had previously been in decline. This phenomenon became known as the 'Jade Goody effect'.

Katie says that she wants the high-profile story arc to encourage others to get checked, in the same way that Jade's life once did.

She commented: "I've heard in the news that girls aren't going for their smears and there's been a bit of focus on that. The Jade Goody effect isn't there anymore, according to something I read the other day.

"I'm hoping this storyline will bring it back so girls go to their smears."